By Shawn Gallagher
If you’re familiar with Amtrak, you probably have heard about the Quiet Car. It’s a dedicated coach car for passengers who want a quiet place to work, rest, or enjoy the train ride. Conversations are required to be limited, electronic devices must be used with headphones, and phone calls are not permitted inside the car. It’s a great feature of taking an Amtrak train and I highly recommend everyone who wants some peace and quiet to consider this option.
I rode the Quiet Car yesterday on my Northeast Regional ride from Boston to New York. Let’s go over my trip, and I’ll also be explaining what the Quiet Car is like.
Early Morning At South Station
I arrived at South Station at around 5:45am, 25 minutes before my train was scheduled to depart.
This is one of my favorite parts of taking Amtrak when traveling along the Northeast Corridor. Unlike flying, all I have to do is show up at the train station and hop on the train. As someone who frequently travels between New York and Boston, this hassle-free experience is always a big plus.
There was an Acela that departed 10 minutes before my Northeast Regional train.
Related: Amtrak Acela Business Class Review, Boston To New York
Normally, you’d wait for the track to get announced back inside the station. However, South Station usually has people lined up next to the train anyway, and Amtrak employees often say which train is ours.
On Board
I boarded the Quiet Car. The Quiet Car is always adjacent to business class, which is the second to last car of the train on the Northeast Regional. Since there’s no seat reservation on coach, it’s first come first serve.
The seats on the Northeast Regional are very comfortable. Just because it’s “coach,” it doesn’t mean it’s like an airplane seat or a bus seat. The seats are comfy and the legroom is decent.
Legroom isn’t the biggest, but it’s still more than enough. I’m 6’1 and never have issues with these seats.
2 power outlets are located on the window seats. If you need to get some work done and need to connect to an outlet, it might be a good idea to grab a window seat.
The train table is fairly sturdy and has enough space for my MacBook.
The overhead storage compartment is quite big. I had more than enough space for my carry on. A bigger suitcase will definitely fit.
There’s also a storage compartment at the ends of the cars, near the doors.
We departed South Station on time.
The Quiet Car
The lights get dimmed in the Quiet Car. This is especially great for trains in the early morning and night hours, as it’s easier to get some rest on the train. Overhead reading lights are available for those who wish to use them.
I was able to get some sleep in after I got some work done. I was up early and I had a long day ahead, so I needed it!
As I said earlier, conversations are asked to be limited and phone calls are not allowed on the Quiet Car. Electronic devices are also required to be used with headphones. Conductors do enforce this rule.
Cafe Car
I always enjoy the Cafe Car when taking Amtrak. It’s a good place to stretch your legs and hang out, and they do offer a good variety of food.
There were people eating breakfast, doing work, and a group of college students playing card games. It was a nice vibe.
The Amtrak conductors are usually in the Cafe Car. If you need them for any reason, this is the place to go.
Approaching New York City
This was scheduled to be a 4 hour and 10 minute ride to New York, but it didn’t feel long at all. Amtrak is significantly more comfortable than taking the plane or bus, and I’m also able to be more productive during the ride. I get a lot more work done.
It’s also relaxing to watch the views from my seat. It’s a very unique way of seeing and experiencing the country and another great way of passing the time.
Concluding Thoughts
I ended up arriving at Penn Station 5 minutes early. Thank you Amtrak for the smooth ride!
Amtrak is my favorite option when traveling along the Northeast Corridor. It’s comfortable, reliable, and allows me to be productive. I highly recommend taking the train if you have a trip between New York and Boston (or Washington DC).
The Quiet Car also helped make a very pleasant ride. I was able to focus on work, and I was also able to get some sleep. Consider taking advantage of this if you want to enjoy a quiet ride to your destination.
All photos taken by the author.